Well-cared-for trees are attractive and can add up to 15 percent to the value of your home. Poorly maintained trees will detract from your property value and if left to decay could cause serious damage to your property and anyone or anything around them.
Angie’s List, the nation’s premiere provider of
consumer reviews on local service companies, asked its highly rated
tree service experts for advice on caring for your trees.
- Know your trees: Learn what your tree should look like at their healthiest, so you can identify potential problems early. If you suspect a problem, call in a specialist for an inspection.
- Danger signs: Call a professional if you notice discoloration, fungal growth at the base of the tree, heavy branches that stretch across your roof, or physical damage – like a long, vertical split in the trunk.
- Hire help: Tree service should be done only by those who are specially trained and equipped. Be wary of individuals who go door-to-door offering steep discounts for cash payment - especially just after a storm has passed. Chances are, he or she will take your money and disappear without starting or finishing the job.
- Do your research: Check for memberships in professional organizations, such as International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), or the American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA). Ask if the company has a certified arborist on staff – a specialist in the care of trees.
- Liability Insurance: Pruning or removing trees, especially large trees, can be dangerous work. You could be held responsible for damages and injuries incurred by an uninsured contractor. Ask for proof of insurance.
- When a tree falls: If your tree, or a neighbor’s tree, falls on our property, call your homeowner’s insurance agent. If your tree falls in your neighbor’s yard – their homeowner’s insurance policy could come into play. But if the tree was dead or decaying and you didn’t get around to having it taken down, you may have a liability problem.